Grandma's waffle iron - R.I.P.

[drhardee]

Well, I suppose it was inevitable. This morning, in the middle of making the second waffle for our breakfast, Grandma's 194X era "Dominion" waffle iron(model # 1315A) bit the dust. Checked the breaker and the power cord...nada. Zilch. Call the Coroner..send no flowers.

Hubby, being the resourceful type he is in the kitchen, switched us over to pancakes, and I said I'd ask my buddies in AW if there's any point in attempting a repair. There's only sentimental value here, despite the fact that this chrome beast faithfully put out tasty waffles for 60+ years. I don't know what's wrong with it, but I suspect that a wire somewhere finally burned through. It is attempting to heat up..but it's like there's not enough juice getting where it needs to go to heat it fully up. It did make one waffle this a.m. before it quit heating, so it's got waffle batter half baked into the grids. I don't know if it was the correct amperage, wattage...but it had been chugging right along with it before this morning. It did have a replacement power cord.

So, do I junk it and head off to TargetWalmartSears to buy a soul-less plasticky "made in China" replacement? I'm NOT electrically inclined; I don't know a volt from a watt. But there is an old-fashioned small appliance repair facility here in Columbia. They would charge me probably $60 to look at it and possibly tell me to throw it out...

Anyone care to shed any light on my small weekend drama??

 

[58limited]

I don't know anything about repairing old waffle irons. Call that appliance place - ask if waffle irons can be fixed, a phone call is free. I wouldn't throw it out, you can use it for display - an old family heirloom if you will. There are plenty of old stylish waffle irons on ebay for cheap - I would buy one of them before buying a new one.

 

[maytagbear]

Call the repair place, anyway

They may, like the one nearest to me, have a 10.00 shop fee that is refunded if the item is totally irrepairable, and applied to the balance if it can be repaired.

There are only a few modern waffle irons worth buying. Cooks Illustrated liked the Black and Decker the last time they looked at waffle irons. It's a BIG one, however.

Good luck-

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[revvinkevin]

I agree, call the repair place, anyway

Yes, it's only a phone call and it never hurts to ask what their fee is to look at it! Since it is a (much) older waffle iron and has worked well for so many years, depending on repair cost it may be worth repairing.

>OR< clean it up, put it in a box in the garage and go buy a new one. In a few years down the road when you get tired of buying new waffle makers every couple years, then dig the old one out and have it repaired.

Friends of mine had a toaster that the parents used for years, and it too was a real work horse. One day it finally died and they bought a new one. After 2 years it died too. Over the years they discovered (for them) they cannot find a toaster that will last more then about 2 years, regardless of price. They tried toasters priced from the $150+ model at William-Sonoma, all the way down to a cheapo $17 toaster from Target and they're all the same. Now they just buy the cheap one since they know it's going in the trash in about 2 years anyway.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Vintage Waffle Irons:

I've got 3-Vintage Waffle Irons and I wouldn't give them up for any number of new ones anyone wanted to give to me. Mine are also sentimental, but as far as I'm concerned no amount of Money would ever prevent me from getting either of them Repaired and still operating.

Good luck with the search of a Repair and hopefully nothing of any real seriousness is wrong with yours.

Peace and Great Vintage Waffle Baking, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...